^ and I thought I was the only one.. 
1 SHORT-TERM GRATIFICATION: First there is short-term gratification. You feel good NOW. There is a strong short-term gain that causes you to assume the drug or behavior is good for you.
2 LONG-TERM PAIN AND DYSFUNCTION: The short-term gratification is eventually followed by long-term pain. This pain, part of which is from physical withdrawal, and part of which is from the inability to cope psycho-socially without drugs/alcohol, is the direct consequence of using the addictive chemical/s.
3 ADDICTIVE THINKING: The long-term pain and dysfunction trigger addictive thinking. Addictive thinking begins with obsession and compulsion. Obsession is a continuous thinking about the positive effects of using alcohol and drugs. Compulsion is an irrational urge or craving to use the drug to get the positive effect even though you know it will hurt you in the long run. This leads to denial and rationalization in order to allow continued use. Denial is the inability to recognize there is a problem. Rationalization is blaming other situations and people for problems rather than drug use.
4 INCREASED TOLERANCE: Without your being aware that it is happening, more and more of the drug is required to produce the same effect.
5 LOSS OF CONTROL: The obsession and compulsion become so strong that you cannot think about anything else. Your feelings and emotions become distorted by the compulsion. You become stressed and uncomfortable until finally the urge to use is so strong that you cannot resist it. Once you use the addictive chemicals or the addictive behaviors again, the cycle starts all over.
6 BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL DAMAGE: Eventually there is damage to the health of your body (physical health), mind (psychological health), and relationships with other people (social health). As pain and stress get worse, the compulsion to use the addictive drugs or behaviors to get relief from the pain increases. A deadly trap develops. You need addictive use in order to feel good. When you use addictively you damage yourself physically, psychologically, and socially. This damage increases your pain which increases your need for addictive use.
Everyone, or at least most of us, want to think we’re “improving” over time. Yet, there are things that simply seem to have a hold that just won’t let go. And, for many, one of those strongholds may be dealing with “addiction”. Whether you want to quit smoking, stop sweating the small stuff, walk away from that decadent dessert or from the computer that’s calling you after dinner, the key is gaining control. But how? The experts weigh in.
1. Define why you do or continue to do what you do: You’ve heard it said that before you can “fix” a problem, you must admit that there IS one. But, say experts, you also have to identify why the solution you’ve chosen is merely a “crutch”, adding that in most cases it’s the “drug” of choice to help us deal with depression, anxiety, unhappiness, pain, and numbs us from dealing with the reality of life.
2. Change your thought process: Start to think rationally rather than in ways that justify your behaviour. Sure you have to take a pill for your migraine, but you don’t have to light up a cigarette to deal with stress. Worse yet is those of us that know our behaviour is “bad” and should be dealt with, but choose to ignore it. In fact, they add that for some, it may be a welcome cover up for dealing with the real issue, usually something that is bothering us. So, if you can’t think it through yourself, ask others for help.
3. Change your pattern: Experts asset that the crutch we have is there for a reason, and we “need” it for a specific purpose. Therefore, if we don’t replace it, preferably with something positive, we likely won’t let it go. Find a suitable and satisfying alternative and remove the negative habit a little at a time.
4. Know your triggers: Take note of what triggers you habit and start dealing with these as well. If you must have a drink with supper, replace alcohol with water or juice. If you smoke with your cup of coffee, think about having tea instead or chewing gum rather than taking a drag. Also use the time that you’d normally use to feed your addition to do something (beneficial) for you. Also make sure to avoid pattern, places, etc. that will allow you to give in.
5. Clean house: Improve your life by improving how you live and redefining happiness and success. Refrain from carrying around cash so that you won’t be able to “feed your addiction.” you may even have to take an alternate route to work, so you don’t tempt yourself, for example, with fast food, and you may even have to “revise” your circle of friends.
6. Take responsibility for your actions and build a strong support system: Stop blaming others or the situation for doing what you do. How you cope is strictly up to you. But, say experts, it’s always good to have someone to answer and report to. Consider involving friends and family as you overcome you addiction and join a support group so you have an outlet for exchanging ideas with others just like you.
7. Treat yourself well Break down the task in more manageable segments but allow yourself to be “rewarded” with each little accomplishment, even if it wasn't of the caliber of level that you’d hoped for, wanted or expected
We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable. NA step one.
translated into proper english.. there is nothing we will ever be able to do to take a drug we are addicted to will allow is to use it with any prolonged benefit.. PERIOD.
The Cycle of Addiction
The cycle of addiction is a representation of a set of commonalities
that addicts seeking recovery frequently experience
"THE ADDICTION CYCLE"
Staying Sober, by Terrence T. Gorski & Merlene Miller
The cycle of addiction is a representation of a set of commonalities
that addicts seeking recovery frequently experience
"THE ADDICTION CYCLE"
Staying Sober, by Terrence T. Gorski & Merlene Miller
- 1 Short-term gratification
[*]2 Long-term pain
[*]3 Addictive thinking
[*]4 Increased tolerance
[*]5 Loss of control
[*]6 Bio-psycho-social damage
1 SHORT-TERM GRATIFICATION: First there is short-term gratification. You feel good NOW. There is a strong short-term gain that causes you to assume the drug or behavior is good for you.
2 LONG-TERM PAIN AND DYSFUNCTION: The short-term gratification is eventually followed by long-term pain. This pain, part of which is from physical withdrawal, and part of which is from the inability to cope psycho-socially without drugs/alcohol, is the direct consequence of using the addictive chemical/s.
3 ADDICTIVE THINKING: The long-term pain and dysfunction trigger addictive thinking. Addictive thinking begins with obsession and compulsion. Obsession is a continuous thinking about the positive effects of using alcohol and drugs. Compulsion is an irrational urge or craving to use the drug to get the positive effect even though you know it will hurt you in the long run. This leads to denial and rationalization in order to allow continued use. Denial is the inability to recognize there is a problem. Rationalization is blaming other situations and people for problems rather than drug use.
4 INCREASED TOLERANCE: Without your being aware that it is happening, more and more of the drug is required to produce the same effect.
5 LOSS OF CONTROL: The obsession and compulsion become so strong that you cannot think about anything else. Your feelings and emotions become distorted by the compulsion. You become stressed and uncomfortable until finally the urge to use is so strong that you cannot resist it. Once you use the addictive chemicals or the addictive behaviors again, the cycle starts all over.
6 BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL DAMAGE: Eventually there is damage to the health of your body (physical health), mind (psychological health), and relationships with other people (social health). As pain and stress get worse, the compulsion to use the addictive drugs or behaviors to get relief from the pain increases. A deadly trap develops. You need addictive use in order to feel good. When you use addictively you damage yourself physically, psychologically, and socially. This damage increases your pain which increases your need for addictive use.
The Cycle of Addiction Is Characterized By:
Recovery Connections characteristics of the addiction cycle
Recovery Connections characteristics of the addiction cycle
- Frustration and internal pain that leads to anxiety and a demand for relief of these symptoms
- Fantasizing about using alcohol and drugs or behaviors to relieve the uncomfortable symptoms
- Obsessing about using drugs and alcohol and how his or her life will be after the use of substances
- Engaging in the addictive activity, such as using substances to gain relief (acting out)
- Losing control over the behavior
- Developing feelings of remorse, guilt and shame, which lead to feelings of dissatisfaction
- Making a promise or resolve to oneself to stop the behavior or substance use
- After a period of time, the pain returns, and the addict begins to experience the fantasies of using substances again.
Everyone, or at least most of us, want to think we’re “improving” over time. Yet, there are things that simply seem to have a hold that just won’t let go. And, for many, one of those strongholds may be dealing with “addiction”. Whether you want to quit smoking, stop sweating the small stuff, walk away from that decadent dessert or from the computer that’s calling you after dinner, the key is gaining control. But how? The experts weigh in.
1. Define why you do or continue to do what you do: You’ve heard it said that before you can “fix” a problem, you must admit that there IS one. But, say experts, you also have to identify why the solution you’ve chosen is merely a “crutch”, adding that in most cases it’s the “drug” of choice to help us deal with depression, anxiety, unhappiness, pain, and numbs us from dealing with the reality of life.
2. Change your thought process: Start to think rationally rather than in ways that justify your behaviour. Sure you have to take a pill for your migraine, but you don’t have to light up a cigarette to deal with stress. Worse yet is those of us that know our behaviour is “bad” and should be dealt with, but choose to ignore it. In fact, they add that for some, it may be a welcome cover up for dealing with the real issue, usually something that is bothering us. So, if you can’t think it through yourself, ask others for help.
3. Change your pattern: Experts asset that the crutch we have is there for a reason, and we “need” it for a specific purpose. Therefore, if we don’t replace it, preferably with something positive, we likely won’t let it go. Find a suitable and satisfying alternative and remove the negative habit a little at a time.
4. Know your triggers: Take note of what triggers you habit and start dealing with these as well. If you must have a drink with supper, replace alcohol with water or juice. If you smoke with your cup of coffee, think about having tea instead or chewing gum rather than taking a drag. Also use the time that you’d normally use to feed your addition to do something (beneficial) for you. Also make sure to avoid pattern, places, etc. that will allow you to give in.
5. Clean house: Improve your life by improving how you live and redefining happiness and success. Refrain from carrying around cash so that you won’t be able to “feed your addiction.” you may even have to take an alternate route to work, so you don’t tempt yourself, for example, with fast food, and you may even have to “revise” your circle of friends.
6. Take responsibility for your actions and build a strong support system: Stop blaming others or the situation for doing what you do. How you cope is strictly up to you. But, say experts, it’s always good to have someone to answer and report to. Consider involving friends and family as you overcome you addiction and join a support group so you have an outlet for exchanging ideas with others just like you.
7. Treat yourself well Break down the task in more manageable segments but allow yourself to be “rewarded” with each little accomplishment, even if it wasn't of the caliber of level that you’d hoped for, wanted or expected
We admitted that we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable. NA step one.
translated into proper english.. there is nothing we will ever be able to do to take a drug we are addicted to will allow is to use it with any prolonged benefit.. PERIOD.
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